Hanuman Chalisa row: Rana couple sent to 14-day judicial custody, charged with sedition

In a new twist, the Rana-couple—Amravati MP Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana—has been booked for charges of sedition even as they have been sent to a 14-day judicial custody by the Holiday and Sunday court of Metropolitan Magistrate, Bandra in Mumbai.

The MLA-MP couple filed their bail application, which will be heard on April 29. The prosecution has been asked to file its say by 27 April.

While Ravi Rana, the three-time Independent MLA from Badnera is likely to be shifted to the Arthur Road prison, Navneet Kaur Rana, the Independent MP from Amravati, is expected to be moved to the Women’s Jail in Byculla.

They are now in Santacruz police station awaiting the report of the mandatory Covid-19 test.

Read | Hanuman Chalisa row: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya attacked

The Rana couple was represented by senior lawyer Rizwan Merchant, the Mumbai Police was represented by special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat.

The police had on Saturday evening arrested the Ranas for allegedly "creating enmity between different groups" after the couple cancelled their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence 'Matoshree'. They dropped the plan later due to PM Modi's scheduled visit to Mumbai.

Hundreds of Shiv Sena workers undertook a night vigil of Matoshree and also camped outside the Khar residence of the Ranas to perform ‘abhishek’ and give ‘maha-prasad’.

Earlier, Ranas were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), and section 135 of the Mumbai Police Act (violation of prohibitory orders of police). The police later also added IPC section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) in the FIR registered against Ranas, the official said.

Gharat told the court that section 124(A) of IPC (sedition) has been added. “The prosecutor has not been able to explain the reason to the court on the addition of the fresh section,” said Merchant.

After the BJP raised the issue of their arrest, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “When central agencies probe or raid our leaders, they (BJP) always say there must be something which is why the action is taken. One must trust the police. The Mumbai police never register a false report or an FIR.”

Reacting sharply to the arrest, leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis, “What is the issue with reciting Hanuman chalisa? If not in Maharashtra, should it be chanted in Pakistan? The MVA (government) slapped IPC 153(A) on Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana who just came to chant Hanuman chalisa. Absolutely shocking. A lady can’t be kept in custody at night. This is an utter disregard of Supreme Court orders about detention of women. Such extreme dictatorship? No right to speak on rampant corruption of MVA? Why are those completely silent who often speak on democratic values?."

Earlier this month, Ravi Rana had demanded that Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena, recite the Hanuman Chalisa at his residence on Hanuman Jayanti, and announced that if the CM did not do so, he would go to 'Matoshree' and recite it.

(With agency inputs)

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